NATO to take the fight to the taliban during winter

Expect more reports of dead taliban this winter as NATO preparing a winter offensive. I have no doubt our troops will be succussful this winter. However, vicotry in Afghanistan hinges on the defeat of the taliban inside Pakistan. It's the latter that I'm not so sure of. Globe & Mail

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- Canada's top military official in southern Afghanistan said NATO forces here will rely on "competitive advantage" over the Taliban this winter to push insurgents out of pockets they use as safe havens and reduce perceptions of insecurity in the volatile province.

"We have a distinct advantage in that we can continue to conduct operations throughout the cold winter months while the insurgents typically have to limit the scope of their activities," said Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, who commands NATO troops on the ground in Kandahar province.

"We are going to take the fight to the insurgents. My intent is ... to deny the insurgents the ability to rest, resupply and reconstitute their leadership in Kandahar province over the winter months. Doing this will force them farther from population centres, limit their ability to conduct large-scale operations and make it increasingly difficult for them to terrorize the civilian population," he said.